press x to close
Arbitrary detention and torture
On November 16th 2023, a villager named Ko[2] H--- [unknown age] from K--- village, Sa Tein village tract[3], Ler K’Saw Township, was stopped and searched by soldiers from the State Administration Council (SAC)[4] LIBs [Light Infantry Battalions][5] #559 and #560. He [Ko H---] was tortured severely [as witnessed and reported by local villagers].
On that day, Ko H--- had travelled from K--- village to Z--- village, to buy something. After buying the things [he needed] and on his way back, he was stopped by SAC soldiers from LIBs #559 and #560, who had set up a gate [a temporary checkpoint] at the entrance of Z--- village. The soldiers stopped [Ko H--- on] his motorcycle and interrogated him about where he was going, where he was from, and what he had bought. Villagers who witnessed the arrest suspect that he was stopped [and questioned further] because two of his cousins are soldiers from the People’s Defence Force (PDF)[6]. [The soldiers looked through Ko H---’s phone and saw a photo of him with his cousins, who were wearing their PDF uniforms.]
While questioning him, the soldiers opened the seat of the motorcycle and found 20 tablets of yaba[7] [methamphetamine] and two packs of opium [weighing about 385 grams each or 13.5 ounces]. After that, the soldiers asked if anyone had requested him to buy these drugs. Ko H--- replied that he had bought the drugs for himself to use while he works. After Ko H--- replied, one of the SAC soldiers said that he was lying, and that he bought the drugs for the PDF. Then, one of the soldiers beat him on the side of the road with a bamboo [stick]. The soldier also cut his face and back with a knife. [After,] a commander of the SAC threatened Ko H--- to not tell anyone about the incident, and that if they saw the news on social media, they would kill him. After that, the SAC [soldiers] released him.
After Ko H--- arrived home, he dared not travel outside of the village and he could not eat well due to his injuries until now [the end of November 2023]. He also could not work for two and a half months because of the injuries. Ko H---’s wife told local villagers that they are afraid and concerned about their security since the arrest and torture.
[As updated in January 2025 to KHRG, the family relocated to a new village due to their security concerns. Ko H---’s uncle reported to KHRG that he wants people to know about the incident and to be careful around SAC checkpoints.]
Further background reading on the situation on arbitrary arrests and torture in Southeast Burma/Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports: